bump on my arm

I have a red pimple like bump on my arm right by the elbow line anteriorly, it looks whitish & is secreting a clear liquid when pressed. when i look at it closely i see little open dots within the pimple looking bump. Please help let me know what this is. I think i have on by my leg too.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

They seem like boils or furuncle. Boils are caused by infection of the hair follicle by staph aureus. Bacterial skin infections can be spread by shared cosmetics or washcloths, close human contact, or by contact with pus from a boil or carbuncle.

Apply warm compresses on the boil and keep the area clean.Drainage of the boil is done only when it becomes soft and forms a head.Take some over the counter pain reliever and consult a doctor for examination and antibiotics prescription.If there are recurrent boils,then pls get your blood sugar levels estimated.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep us posted if you have any additional queries.